Human Physiology

The Human Physiology Department studies the science of the mechanical, physical and biomedical functions of humans, serving as the foundation of modern medicine. As a discipline, it connects science, medicine, and health, creating a framework for understanding how the human body adapts to stress, physical activity, and disease.

Human Physiology is home to award-winning teaching and research faculty. Our engaging, inclusive, and evidence-based teaching and year-long, cadaver-based anatomy curriculum allows students to work alongside faculty members on cutting-edge science. Contemporary research in human physiology explores new ways to maintain or improve quality of life, development of new medical therapies and interventions, and charting the unanswered questions about how the human body works.


1,071
Undergraduate Majors
30%
First-generation students
1st
Established Department of Human Physiology in the U.S.
$3M
Annual research grants

What can you do with a Human Physiology degree?

A degree in Human Physiology opens many doors for students, providing them with the foundation for  careers in health care, sports and fitness facilities, nursing and residential career outpatient clinics or private practice, federal and state government health, or hospice. Many human physiology graduates elect to earn advanced degrees in allied health professions, including medicine, and physical and occupational therapy.

Our Degree Programs

Our undergraduate students complete preparatory science courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics that prepare them for the upper-level coursework in human anatomy and physiology. Our graduate program is focused on training the next generation of critical thinking scientists who can benefit society by using careful reasoning and scientific principles to solve problems and innovate new areas of scientific application.

Scholarships and Funding

The Human Physiology department gives out $18,000 annually in awards and scholarships to help fund student education. Explore our available scholarships and funding, including graduate teaching opportunities, below.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our Peer Advisors are majors in Human Physiology who help you navigate course options and direction within the department. We also offer a drop-in study room. Our faculty work closely with the UO Teaching Engagement Program to make our classes engaging, inclusive, and effective.

Undergraduate Advising
Graduate Student Support

people running in the heat

Outside Magazine Reporter Gets the Hot Treatment for Runners

The 'Sweat Science' columnist works with Human Physiology prof Chris Minson and tries the heat adaption protocol used by elite Oregon runners. He survives (barely) to tell the tale.

Steve Laurie at NASA, standing next to space capsule

How Human Physiology Launches Your Career

“The Human Physiology department fostered a rigorous academic training environment, but also placed a strong emphasis on how to be a critical thinker in all aspects of work and life. I now work in the aerospace industry for a federal government contractor, and the training I received in communication, the breadth of exposure to various topic areas, and exposure to non-academic career paths all prepared me for my professional life after leaving Oregon.”

—Steve Laurie, Human Physiology doctoral alumnus ‘12

In The Homestretch: A Heptathlete’s Journey to Medical School

From competing in seven events as as track heptathlete, to conducting research in the lab, Colleen Uzoekwe has her sights set high. 

Faculty Research

Learn from Experts in the Field

Our faculty are involved in cutting-edge biomedical research that covers the spectrum from bench-top basic science to bedside clinical research and application, to sport and human performance. Our areas of excellence include:

  • The developmental origins of disease related to the impact of maternal diet and health status on the well-being of offspring.
  • Human adaptation to environmental extremes such as high altitude.
  • Use of environmental stressors such as heat stress to induce therapeutic benefits in patient populations.
  • Nutritional interventions to preserve muscle function in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.
  • Prediction and prevention of overuse injuries arising from participation in sports.
  • Neuromotor strategies for movement and assessment of movement disorders.
  • The effect of age-associated changes in blood vessels on risk of atherosclerosis.
Hands-On Learning

Get Real World Experience

Experiential learning opportunities allow students to apply knowledge learned in human physiology courses and gain critical insights into various career options. All of our faculty work closely with undergraduate students, allowing for rich opportunities for experiential learning research experience. We also offer practicum opportunities in healthcare settings. The Human Cadaver Dissection Lab offers the unparalleled opportunity for experiential learning exploration of the human form. Advanced undergraduates may also earn the opportunity to participate in the annual dissection course, when donated bodies are prepared for instructional use.

Human Physiology News and Events

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - On this episode we’re joined by Mike Hahn, professor of human physiology and director of the Bowerman Sports Science Center. The This is Oregon Podcast team discusses his team’s research on distance running, fatigue, and tips to get the most out of your run while avoiding injury. Link goes to Spotify.
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - The Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Oregon is centered in the Knight Campus but involves investigators from across the UO. A project from the lab of Damien Callahan, a professor in the Department of Human Physiology, examines the role of proteins contributing to the structure and function of skeletal muscle, with the goal of predicting muscle tissue injury in female athletes.
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY - Faculty members and graduate students at the Bowerman Sports Science Center (BSSC) conduct groundbreaking research on the mechanics of the human body and how it reacts to stress. Along the way, they work with local runners, both amateur and professional, to help them achieve their performance goals while avoiding injury.

All news »


How to Be Ready for the BIG10 Academia Career Fair
Oct14
How to Be Ready for the BIG10 Academia Career Fair Oct 14
How to: Resume and Cover Letter Tips Workshop
Oct14
How to: Resume and Cover Letter Tips Workshop Oct 14 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Physical Chemistry Seminar: “Spectroscopic Studies of Nucleic Acid Structure, Dynamics and Photophysics”
Oct14
Physical Chemistry Seminar: “Spectroscopic Studies of Nucleic Acid Structure, Dynamics and Photophysics” Oct 14 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
History Pub Lecture Series: "Malaria Eradication in Africa, 1920-2020: A History of Failures, but What About the Present?"
Oct14
History Pub Lecture Series: "Malaria Eradication in Africa, 1920-2020: A History of Failures, but What About the Present?" Oct 14 Whirled Pies Downtown
Department of History Coffee Hour
Oct15
Department of History Coffee Hour Oct 15 McKenzie Hall
Disabled and Neurodivergent Graduate Student Time Together
Oct15
Disabled and Neurodivergent Graduate Student Time Together Oct 15 Susan Campbell Hall
The Roots of Polarization: From the Racial Realignment to the Culture Wars
Oct15
The Roots of Polarization: From the Racial Realignment to the Culture Wars Oct 15 William W. Knight Law Center
How to Be Ready for the Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE)
Oct15
How to Be Ready for the Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE) Oct 15
Let's Talk - Tuesdays 3-5PM (CMAE/Zoom)
Oct15
Let's Talk - Tuesdays 3-5PM (CMAE/Zoom) Oct 15 CMAE
The BIG 10+ Academia Career Fair
Oct16
The BIG 10+ Academia Career Fair Oct 16

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